Metro Rapid is a bus service in Los Angeles County, California, operated as part of the Los Angeles Metro Bus system. Metro Rapid service was introduced in the early 2000s to provide faster service on major corridors in Los Angeles, with stops spaced approximately 1⁄2 mile (800 m) apart.[1]
The first Metro Rapid lines featured physical infrastructure improvements, including signal priority at intersections in the City of Los Angeles, and enhanced bus shelters. The service was initially popular, expanding across Los Angeles County. Despite the service's initial popularity, service was cut on some major corridors in response to budget difficulties in the early 2010s.[2]
A major reorganization of the Metro Bus network, the NextGen Bus Plan, was proposed in 2019. Much of the Metro Rapid network was suspended in 2020, as part of the broader impacts on transit from the COVID-19 pandemic, and most Rapid lines were not reinstated. The changes from the NextGen plan, implemented beginning in 2021, merged most Rapid lines back into their local counterparts.[3]
Service
Metro Rapid service is a limited-stop bus service, with characteristics of bus rapid transit. These characteristics include off-board fare payment on some lines, enhanced bus stops that are spaced farther apart than corresponding local services, and signal priority at some intersections.[4]
The lack of dedicated bus lanes for Metro Rapid service has led scholars to describe it as "BRT-lite," as opposed to "bus rapid transit" or "full-service bus rapid transit."[4][5][6]
The establishment of Metro Rapid service followed a 1996 consent decree, the product of a federal lawsuit brought by a coalition of civil rights organizations, including the Bus Riders Union. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that Metro's large subsidies for rail construction and operation, relative to its expenditures for bus service, were discriminatory. Metro Rapid service was one part of Metro's proposals to improve bus service, approved by special master Donald T. Bliss. In addition to introducing Metro Rapid service, Metro expanded local and express bus service, purchased hundreds of new buses, and lowered bus pass prices.[8][9]
Metro Rapid stop on Wilshire Blvd from the 2000 pilot program, with amenities including a real-time arrivals display
Metro Rapid service on the two pilot corridors began in June 2000, opening on the same day as the Red Line extension to North Hollywood. Both lines were immediately popular, generating ridership growth of 25% in their first 90 days of operation. Travel time was improved by over 20% on both lines, aided by the signal priority at intersections in the City of Los Angeles.[7]: 4 Customer satisfaction increased relative to the previous local and limited-stop bus services, and the Rapid service quickly captured over 60% of bus ridership on both corridors.[7]: 9
Following the initial pilot program of two lines in 2000, the Metro Rapid system expanded quickly. 6 lines were in operation in 2003,[10] expanding to 26 lines in 2010.[11] This rapid expansion was followed by significant reduction, with 5 Rapid lines cut in 2011 due to a budget crisis.[12]
The NextGen Bus Plan, a Metro initiative to redesign its entire bus network, proposed to eliminate most of the Metro Rapid network beginning in 2020. Implementation of the NextGen plan was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused service cuts independent of the network redesign. In the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in late 2020, service was reallocated from Metro Rapid lines to local lines. A December 2020 service change eliminated 6 lines,[13] and much of the rest of the network was proposed to be eliminated by 2021. The NextGen plan included the construction of over 30 miles (48 km) of new bus lanes across Los Angeles, a feature notably absent from the Metro Rapid system since its introduction.[14]
As of 2024, three Metro Rapid lines remain in operation, serving the Wilshire Blvd, Vermont Av, and Van Nuys Blvd/Sepulveda Pass corridors.
Perception and criticism
A 2009 study by the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute found that the public perception of Metro Rapid service was better than that of Metro's corresponding local bus services, and similar to the Blue Line. However, Metro Rapid service was perceived as lower-quality than Orange Line BRT and Metro's other rail services.[4]
Transit planner Jarrett Walker, who is unaffiliated with Metro, criticized the rapid growth of the Metro Rapid service on multiple occasions. Walker characterized the system as "diluted," commenting that Metro Rapid lines introduced after the first two lacked the bus stop amenities, service frequency, and signal priority that defined the two initial lines.[2] Walker nonetheless praised the system for the attitude it represented, describing it as "a remarkable effort to step up mobility all over the city in a very short time."[15]
Bus stops on later Metro Rapid lines, as shown here, often lacked amenities
Began June 2006, operated alongside Line 234 (which replaced service everyday during late evenings and early mornings and all day on weekends).
Discontinued in June 27, 2021 due to the 2nd phase of NextGen Bus Plan. Service between Ventura Bl and Sylmar Station is replaced by a higher frequency Line 234. Service south of Ventura Bl is replaced by Line 761.
Northridge Reseda Bl & Devonshire St (weekdays only)
Van Nuys Bl, Ventura Bl, Reseda Bl
Began December 2014, replaced Lines 741 and 761. It operated alongside Lines 233 and 240
This line and Line 788 were the last Rapid Lines ever released as a new number line.
Discontinued in June 27, 2021 due to the 2nd phase of NextGen Bus Plan. Service west on Ventura and Sepulveda Bls was replaced by a higher frequency of Line 240. Service on Van Nuys Bls was reverted to Line 761 except the northern terminal was relocated to Sylmar instead of Pacioma.
Began June 2000, one of the two original routes, operated alongside Line 150
Originally operated daily until it was reduced to a weekday-only route in December 2010.
Discontinued in June 27, 2021 due to the 2nd phase of NextGen Bus Plan. Replaced by a higher frequency of Line 150 west of Reseda Bl and higher frequency of Line 240 east of Reseda Bl.
Began June 2004, replaced Line 350 and operated alongside Line 251.
Originally ran far to Long Beach Bl Station on weekdays only until it was shortened to its present terminal in June 2007 to lower the overlap for Line 760.
Originally had a Saturday service until it was discontinued in June 2011 due to low ridership.
Discontinued in December 2020 as part of a restructuring for NextGen Bus Plan.
Began June 2007, replaced Line 360 and operated alongside Line 60.
Used to run as far south to Artesia Station and operated daily until it was shortened to its present terminal and discontinued its Sunday service in June 2011 due to lack of time travel savings.
Discontinued in December 2020 as part of a restructuring for NextGen Bus Plan.
Began December 2007, replaced Lines 368 and 370 and operated alongside Lines 68 and 70
Saturday service was added in June 2008 until was it was discontinued in April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discontinued in June 27, 2021 due to the 2nd phase of NextGen Bus Plan. Replaced by a higher frequency of the newly rerouted Line 70 which now follows the path of the former Line 770.
Replaced 380 in June 2005 to have a western terminus at Hollywood/Highland Station and combined it with the 717 in June 2006 to extend to its current western terminus at West Los Angeles Transit Center.
Weekend service was added between Pasadena and Hollywood in June 2008, until it was discontinued in December 2010 due to low ridership.
Discontinued in June 27, 2021 due to the 2nd phase of NextGen Bus Plan. Replaced by a higher frequency of the newly rerouted Line 180 from Hollywood/Vine to Pasadena City College, and a higher frequency of Line 217 which is now extended east to Vermont/Sunset Station.
Began June 2008, replaced Line 394 and operated alongside Lines 94 and 224
Was extended to Sylmar Station in June 2009 replacing Line 724 segment on San Fernando Rd and weekend service was added.
Weekend service was discontinued in June 2012 due to a lack of travel time savings.
Discontinued in June 27, 2021 due to the 2nd phase of NextGen Bus Plan. Replaced by a higher frequency of Line 94 from Burbank to Downtown LA, and a new Line 294 from Burbank to Sylmar.
^Deng, Taotao; Nelson, John D. (January 2011). "Recent Developments in Bus Rapid Transit: A Review of the Literature". Transport Reviews. 31 (1): 69–96. doi:10.1080/01441647.2010.492455. ISSN0144-1647.
^García, Robert; Rubin, Thomas A. (2004). "Crossroad blues: the MTA Consent Decree and just transportation". In Lucas, Karen (ed.). Running on empty: Transport, social exclusion and environmental justice. Bristol University Press. doi:10.2307/j.ctt1t89876. ISBN978-1-84742-600-0.
